Main menu

Category Archives: February 2014

This title has a lot of meaning. For one, no more snow canceled any school days, which kept school running smoothly. I also got invited to perform at an event and be a photographer at another event! It was fun dusting off and bringing back my wonderful hobbies and joys in life. The first event I sang at was at UGA’s Museum of Art where America’s Black culture and art was being honored and displayed (remember it is Black History Month). I was asked to sing the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and I think it went well for the most part. I definitely screeched out one note, but I am my toughest critic 🙂 Thank you for asking me to sing at the event. It was an honor! The event where I was asked to be the photographer was Alpha Psi’s Formal. Everyone looked glamorous and were greatly enjoying themselves!

On to other news . . . this week was not as ridiculously challenging as earlier weeks and the next week that is about to come. It just felt more laid back. The 2 big exciting things this week were the 4th surgery lab and the 2nd Toxocology quiz (call it exam or final in you head/ no joke!)

For surgery, it was a very stress-free experience because there was no live animal to keep under general anesthesia. We were only working on dead horse intestines (smelled almost fishy). We learned how to cut open the intestines and learn to sew it back up! Leakage is a big concern for these surgeries, so we had to test out how well we sutured the specific by putting water in the lumen of the intestine. Ours did not leak! Yay!

Oh Toxicology, you are a mess. I studied very hard for you this time. I felt much better about it too, so hopefully my grade will improve more than last time. Flashcards greatly helped!

Through Him,

~Camille

Ephesians 3:15= “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

So. . . I thought that one Snow Day was enough love from the Lord, but you keep showering your beautiful blessings! Guys… 3 days off! Talk about time of tranquility and rest! Thank you Jesus!

Because of these snow days, many assignments and quizzes had to be postponed meaning there is not much to update you guys! All I’m going to say is I felt like I just experienced Spring Break, but I do not mind having more days off when that time comes 🙂

Since my surgery day #3 was before school was cancelled, I would be more than happy to share my experience! The surgery began at 1p and did not end until 6p!! It was long but fascinating! We got to cut open the pig by doing an enterotomy and then we each had to apply what we learned in Principle Surgery by suturing up the fascia of the linea alba, subcutaneous, and finally the skin. It was more challenging than I thought but exhilarating! Just watching and doing the surgery was wonderful to me!! Whenever I watch a surgeon do his/her craft, it feels like I am watching a play. I want to clap afterwards! 😛

I love surgeries!! It was an exciting week for me because we finally got to do hands-on work with our cute little piglets! Our group decided to not name our piglet because we knew we would get too attached, so we are continuing to call it Case # …… 🙂 It actually helps me to not get too attached even though I am already. Here are some helpful advice for you before you do Lab #2 which focused primarily on anesthetizing the pig and sterilely draping as if we are preparing for a surgery:

-bring your own surgical scissors

So, we had some difficulty tearing tape for securing the catheter in the ear and taping the Doppler probe onto the medial plantar region of the forelimb.

-Remember to eat something!

The doctors told us at least one person faints during these surgery sessions, so EAT PLEASE! That should not be a problem for me, but I’ll let you know if that happens…

-Relax

Make sure to prepare before the labs. The doctors provide a lot of handouts and videos that will ease the surgery experience, so take advantage of that. If you have a question, I would advise asking your group members first before asking the doctors because your questions may have been answered in the videos and handouts. The doctors are very patient with you, but they may sometimes not help you immediately if you have not taken the time to research material on your own.

-Weaknesses

So this week, I did struggle with placing the catheter in the ear & being the student doing anesthesia. Fortunately, the doctors were very patient with me as I was doing the catheter (it is not easy). They helped guide me after I failed on my first attempt. I never felt embarrassed or looked down upon for not doing it correctly the first time. Thank you for your kindness and patience! Then again, our group’s surgery time is in the beginning of the week, so maybe they have not been bombarded by so many students yet 🙂

To me, having the task of being the Anesthesiologist is the most demanding. You are the one who has to watch vital signs every 5 minutes! It feels like the patient’s life is all in your hands and supervision. That feeling is so crazy for me! Remember important steps to take if you see complications such as hypotension, hypoventilation, and hypothermia and what to do with fluids that are provided.

All of this is just one thing we had to accomplish this week. We also had 6 other things to do!

1) Monday morning, we had to do our Renal Pathology Exam and Musculoskeletal Pre-test. This was a big day for me because I did not do as well as I should have done on my Renal Pre-test. Guess what?? I got an A on both my Renal and Musculoskeletal exams! Trusting on your strength God!!

2) Oh man, Toxicology… that quiz #1 was brutal! It was all multiple choice but many were very picky and specific questions within the lecture slides. He did not put the Echo lectures up online until the day before the quiz. The quiz is heavily weighted (20% of your grade), so study for it like you were studying for an exam. There will be 4 quizzes total.

3&4)An Anesthesia paper and Polysystemic Case 2 were due this week. The great thing about them is how we can be in groups as large as 4 people to share our creative minds.

5) General Surgery Quiz 1= It was short answer, and I did not have to study that much because information where I do things hands-on sticks much better to me than just reading it from a textbook or lecture slides. Handouts were provided, so I would look over those notes real quick before the quiz

6) The big day has finally come . . . the Anesthesiology Final Exam!!! It was a 3 hour exam of only short answer questions. I have to be honest with you that I was a bit nervous for this final. Guys, the experience was very long but better than what I thought I would dread. He did have a review session that laid out the learning objectives and what to focus on, so I thought it was beneficial to go. Study hard for it though!! You can do it.

This weekend, I decided to go to the Real Life Real Impact again (by Christian Veterinarian Fellowship Club). Last year, we went to Auburn University in Alabama. This year was at North Carolina State University. I thought the experience this year was way better than last year, and I got to enjoy it with some of my classmates.

Through Him,

~Camille

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”